BILL NUMBER: AB 640	CHAPTERED  10/10/99

	CHAPTER   612
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   OCTOBER 10, 1999
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   OCTOBER 5, 1999
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   SEPTEMBER 8, 1999
	PASSED THE SENATE   SEPTEMBER 7, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   SEPTEMBER 2, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   AUGUST 16, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   MAY 28, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Bates
   (Principal coauthors:  Assembly Members Briggs and Florez)
   (Coauthors:  Assembly Members Campbell, House, Kaloogian, Leach,
Oller, Robert Pacheco, and Strickland)

                        FEBRUARY 23, 1999

   An act to amend Sections 5101.3, 5101.4, and 5101.8 of the Vehicle
Code, relating to vehicles.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 640, Bates.  Special license plates:  fee exemptions.
   Existing law provides for the issuance of, among others, special
license plates entitled "Pearl Harbor Survivor," "Legion of Valor,"
"Combat Wounded," "Purple Heart," and "PH."  Persons entitled to the
issuance of these special license plates are generally required to
pay an additional registration fee, renewal fee, transfer fee, and
replacement fee.
   This bill would exempt persons entitled to the issuance of those
special license plates from the payment of the above described fees.
The bill would make conforming changes to the provisions governing
the issuance of these special license plates.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 5101.3 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

   5101.3.  (a) Any person otherwise eligible under this article who
qualifies under subdivision (b) may apply for special license plates
that shall run in a separate numerical series and shall contain the
words "Pearl Harbor Survivor."  The plates may be issued for any
vehicle, except a vehicle used for transportation for hire,
compensation, or profit, or a motorcycle, which is owned or coowned
by the person.
   (b) To qualify for issuance of the special plates, the applicant
by satisfactory proof shall show all of the following:
   (1) The applicant was a member of the United States Armed Forces
on December 7, 1941, and received an honorable discharge from
military service.
   (2) The applicant was on station at Pearl Harbor, the Island of
Oahu, or offshore within a distance of three miles, on December 7,
1941, during the hours of 7:55 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., Hawaii time, as
certified by a California chapter of the Pearl Harbor Survivors
Association.
   (c) Upon the death of a person issued special license plates
pursuant to this section, his or her surviving spouse may retain the
special license plates subject to the conditions set forth in this
section.  Upon the death of the spouse, the retained special license
plates shall be returned to the department either (1) within 60 days
following that death or (2) upon the expiration of the vehicle
registration, whichever occurs first.
   (d) Sections 5106 and 5108 do not apply to this section.
  SEC. 2.  Section 5101.4 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:
   5101.4.  (a) Any person otherwise eligible under this article who
is a recipient of the Army Medal of Honor, Navy Medal of Honor, Air
Force Medal of Honor, Army Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross,
or Air Force Cross may apply for special license plates for the
vehicle under this article.
   (b) The applicant, by conclusive evidence, shall show that the
applicant is a recipient of one of the nation's highest decorations
for valor, as specified in subdivision (a).
   (c) The special license plates issued under this section shall
contain the words "Legion of Valor" and shall run in a regular
numerical series.  An adhesive sticker denoting which of the nation's
highest decorations for valor, as specified in subdivision (a), is
held by the applicant shall be affixed in a recess provided for it on
the license plates.
   (d) Upon the death of a person issued special license plates
pursuant to this section, his or her surviving spouse may retain the
special license plates subject to the conditions set forth in this
section.  Upon the death of the spouse, the retained special license
plates shall be returned to the department either (1) within 60 days
following that death or (2) upon the expiration of the vehicle
registration, whichever occurs first.
   (e) Sections 5106 and 5108 do not apply to this section.
  SEC. 3.  Section 5101.8 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:
   5101.8.  (a) Any person otherwise eligible under this article who
is a Purple Heart recipient may apply for special license plates for
vehicles that are not used for transportation for hire, compensation,
or profit, under this article.  The special plates assigned to the
vehicle shall run in a separate numerical series, shall have
inscribed on the plate the Purple Heart insignia, and shall contain
the words "Combat Wounded" and "Purple Heart" or at least the letters
"PH" as part of the numerical series.  The department shall reserve
and issue the special plates to all applicants providing the proof
required by subdivision (b).
   (b) The applicant, by satisfactory proof, shall show that the
applicant is a Purple Heart recipient.
   (c) Special plates may be issued pursuant to subdivision (a) only
for a vehicle owned or coowned by a Purple Heart recipient and may
not be transferred to any other person, including the coowner of the
vehicle.  The special plates shall be surrendered to the department
upon the death of the Purple Heart recipient.
   (d) When an applicant for the Purple Heart license plate qualifies
as a disabled veteran, as specified in subdivision (b) of Section
22511.55, the applicant may also apply for a distinguishing placard
described in subdivision (a) of Section 22511.55 to be used in
conjunction with the Purple Heart license plate for the purpose of
allowing special parking privileges pursuant to subdivision (a) of
Section 22511.5.
   (e) Sections 5106 and 5108 do not apply to this section.
